Govt revising laws to help parents abandoned by their children after writing away property

New Delhi: In a major move aimed at protecting senior citizens from being abandoned by their children after 'grabbing' their properties, the government has decided to make it must for children to return parental property if their parents file a complaint of misbehaviour or any sort of harassment against their kith and kin.

According to sources, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has decided to bring in stringent changes in the existing Parents and Senior Citizens Care and Welfare Act of 2007 to protect senior citizens from being harassed by their sons and daughters.

According to the proposed new norms, children would have to return back all properties of their parents even if it's been transferred in their name.

The ministry has decided to tweak the law by putting in a stringent clause into the Act after taking a note of several complaints filed by senior citizens that they are being abandoned by their relatives after the transfer of property papers.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thavarchand Gehlot had directed concerned officials to make changes in the Act.

 "The amendment to the Act has been finalised by the ministry, which would be placed in the Cabinet very soon. After being approved by the Centre, the legislation would be sent to states for implementation," the sources said, adding that the Centre would provide needed assistance to states for its better implementation.

According to a data released by a non-government organisation working for the welfare of old age people, out of above 100 million old people living in India, about one crore elders have been thrown out of the home due to property dispute by their own children. The parents would be able to register their complaint in the Maintenance Tribunal or the Appellate Tribunal, which has rights equivalent to the rights of Civil Courts.

As per the proposed changes in the Act, the ministry has also decided to do away with the Rs 10,000/ month ceiling currently in place and wants to link the amount to the sources of income of the senior citizens and their children.